Expansion of public works eyed in Bradenton Beach

By Paul Roat. Islander Reporter

Bradenton Beach may be growing a little, and it's not just by "leaps and bounds," although expanding the city line into the surrounding waters has been discussed.

City commissioners last week gave the mayor their nod to begin negotiations for property next door to the city's public works department on Church Avenue. Asking price for the 783-square-foot single-family home on a 50-by100-foot lot owned by Robert Allen Bodell is $400,000.

There are no plans for what the city will do with it, but it's "an opportunity," Mayor John Chappie said.

Before the property could be utilized for city purposes, it would need to be rezoned from its current residential to governmental zoning, a change that Building Official Ed Mc Adam said would not be difficult.

"I could not believe how confined public works was," Commissioner John Shaughnessy said. "Public works needs to expand, and I'm all for us to get this before someone else gobbles it up."

Funding for the property would come from the city's community redevelopment agency funds, which currently amounts to more than $1 million.

Not everyone was pleased with the acquisition, though.

"I can't vote on something without doing a little more research," said Commissioner Bill Shearon. "I don't see the big rush with this. I believe we're opening ourselves to a real can of worms without the rezoning."

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